! what was born
For your hearts to cherish--
And left forlorn
In the grave to perish,
It is not gone; though it is not there--
The One Eternal of it takes care.

In Him there liveth all life; He proveth
All force, and kindleth so clear all light.
His love embraceth, too, what He moveth
To other homes in His house, so bright.
Let fogs not blind thee,
Thou spirit childly!
Once shall find thee
That hour, when mildly
The Father calls thee. But, in the mean,
Endure and labor, with faith serene!

Like Mary, linger, with holy feeling,
And pray and listen, at Jesu feet!
Like Magdalene, at the cross appealing,
See looks of mercy repentance meet!
Like John, so cling thee
To friend ne'er failing!
His love shall bring thee,
From stress and ailing,
To bliss and freedom, forever nigh,
Within His heavenly realm on high.

Well those, who, noble in will, prevailing,
Have sought the right, and the kindly felt,
Who much have loved, spite of all their failing!
Them much forgiveness shall too be dealt.
They were not rated
The _best_ desired;
But angels stated,
With love untired,
What, in the smallest degree, through them,
Had cheered that world from which they came.

They did adhere to their foremost duty,
To fear the Lord, with a fervent heart;
They cleansed their garments, to stainless beauty,
In blood, that innocence doth impart.
All grief is banished,
All sin remitted,
All anguish vanished,
All weeping quitted--
Their names are kept in their Father's grace,
And weary sink they in His embrace.

They go so peaceful in God to slumber,
They greet so joyful the final day:
No tribulations their rest encumber,
No visitations of fortune's sway.
No longer thwarted,
As earth compels us,
They have departed,
The spirit tells us,
Exchanging thralldom for freedom's gem,
And their achievements shall follow them.

A noble feeling each step impelling,
They gained the home of their Father soon.
That ample city shall be their dwelling,
Whose light depends not on sun and moon:
For greater light,
Than the sun containeth,
Has He, w